Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1887-06-09
IN MEMoRIAM.
4 LANES sEyIER.

at his residence in Jonesboro, Tenn.
Capt. James Sewer departed this life.
He was a son Of Valentine and Nancy
Sewer. and was born In Greeneville, Tenn,
Feb. 18th. 1874 Atthe time Of his death
he was seventy-three years, three months
and seventeen days old. AV
His ancestors came from Paris, France,
near the close Of the 17th century. and
settled in London, England. His great
grandfather came from London to Rock
ingham County. Virginia. in the year
1740. His grandfather. Robert Sewer,
commanded a company in the battle of
Kings Mountain, October 18th, 1880.
where he was killed. Gen. John Sewer,
the first Governor Of Tennessee, was
Capt Sewers granduncle. His father,
Valentine Sewer, lived in Greeneville.
Tenn, where he nurtnred a family Of
thirteen children by a first marriage and
two by q second.
Capt. Sewer began business as o mer-
chant at Guthries, in Greene County.
Moving to R~ogersville, in 1886 he was
married to Miss Jane Simpson, and the
fruit Of this marriage was seven sons and
a daughter, five of the sons now living.
His wife dying, in 1858 he was mar
rled TO Mrs. Eva M. Neill, widow Of jas.
X. Neill. Of Rogersville. His wife and
the two daughters born to him from this
marriage are now living to mourn the loss
Of husband and father.
In Rogersville for o number Of years he
served as cashier of the bank, and had
the entire confidence both Of his business
associates and the public.
In all his dealings he was found to be
an honest man. He was genial. affable,
kind and accommodating. He was court
ly and gentlemanly. 1t is not strange that
q man with such traits of character should
be both popular and beloved. A man
not ambitious. and %unassuming, he held
no official position because he did not de.
sire or seek It.
/. Moving to Jonesboro in 1859, he be.
came proprietor Of the Washington House
hotel, and he held this position, with the
exception Of fifteen months, till his death.
It is no exaggeration to say, that as pro-
prietor Of a hotel but very few men could
be so popular.
He was well known In this capacity al
along the line of the E. Tenn, Va. & Ga.
r. r.
1t was no uncommon thing 10 hear tina
commercial travellers put themselves con
siderably out Of their way In order t.
spend the Sabbath at Capt. Sewer s hotel
Nothing that a kind obliging disposition
Y or a thoughtful anticipation of wanti
? could do for the comfort of his guests
y was left undone. Interesting and apt II
conversation, he caused the weary hour
. of waiting for delayed trains to pass ava.
almost too rapidly as he entertained hi
guests with sprightly remark and well
o told laughable anecdote. The travelling
Q public and oil who knew genial kim
Capt. Sewer, on hearing Of his death, vii
be made sad. and in after years the mem
y dry Of HIS Uniformly cheerful counter
q ance and sayings will serve TO silenc
T many o complaint and 10 cure many q
of dependency.
o. Capt. Sewer made O profession of rt
g religion under the preaching of Rev.
w. Bachman and joined the Presbyteria
le Church at Rogersville, Tenn, in 1857
70 He Joined the Jonesboro Church by lette
In 1871.
At the time of conversion he we
brought under such powerful convictio
es of sin as to be stricken down In churcl
al His agony Of soul was intense till he gail
70 ed peace by trusting wholly to the mcri
at of the crucifled Savior. He gave to h
friends the most satisfactory evidence {
q new birth. Surrounded by influences
I'd most u~nfavOrable for the cultivation
pie,y, as proprietor Of a hotel, he new
Is. lost his hope in Christ.
During the fifteen months that he spel
al away from the hotel he was q daily read
a Of the Bible, and with the simplicity of
as little child repeated his verse at the breaI
III fast table with the other members of Il
m family
During the last decade he suffered vii
u. many bodily infrmities. and because of
In painful accident he could neither wa
N. nor stand for three years before his deaf
lis And yet, his accomplishing cheerfulne
ed and patience under the weight Of his G
re forced confinement and much conseque
I'M suffering, was well calculated to put to 4
blush those who with good health al
In agile limb could complain at their ha
lot In life. He said to his wife duril
he his last sickness, that he was being draw
%. more and more from the world, and II
IT. he thought he was ready to abide by
Oh Lords will. With peculiar fondness
80. dwelt upon the words Of Moses; IT
art days Of our years are threescore YET
Is and ten and Il by reason Of streng
ST. they be fourscore years, yet is tn
nd strength labor and sorrow ; for ills SO
ow cut of and we fly away"
RS. His burdensome, weary, worn body
nty to-day commit to the rest Of the ton
,ur and the spirit we are willing to leave
the hands Of the God who gave 1t.
Id The funeral was held from the #
Va. Presbyterian church Sunday at Q o'clo
m Rev. G.. A. Duncan, pastor Of the Secc
Drocbytnxfoo ots,,roh aoototod hu Dov